BajaNomad

Exporting water from Mexico to the United States

Whale-ista - 3-13-2014 at 09:50 AM

Something to think about next time you drive through Lazaro Card##as/San Quintin/El Rosario.


Nogales winter produce: Fruits and veggies travel from Mexico to your supermarket.

Excerpt:
But drought or no drought, there may not be enough water to go around in the arid growing regions of west Mexico, either. Essentially, the United States is exacerbating Mexico’s own H2O issues by importing millions of tons of water from Mexico in vegetable form. It’s not just agriculture, either: Other U.S. companies with operations in Mexico—like car factories—require water, and lots of it.

Article link

DavidE - 3-13-2014 at 10:00 AM

Water stays in the ground, labor intensive fields let their workers and families go hungry and this is better? I'll bet the millions upon millions of Bajacalifornianos who eat US lettuce, potatoes, plus celery in addition to San Quintin tomatoes, carrots, and other vegetables realize there exists a water shortage.

Better to starve to death rather than spend your very last dollar.

Whale-ista - 3-13-2014 at 10:52 AM

Background: In another lengthy discussion about drought, El Niño and climate change, water transfers were proposed as a possible solution. Actually, this is already happening, and I didn't want the idea to get lost, so I introduced it in a separate post here.

Basically the point is: we are already moving water around, in the form of exported agricultural products. California has done it for decades, and more recently Baja/Baja Sur is starting to catch up.

I'm not offering an opinion on which idea is better/worse, just pointing out that exporting water-rich fruits and vegetables is the same as exporting water. At some point, it may not be sustainable if climate/weather patterns/rainfall don't keep up with demand.

The question for California, Arizona, Baja and Baja Sur is: how do you reach a sustainable balance, so the water going out via exported produce does not exceed the water needed to go back in for local consumption as well as agricultural production?

Likewise, when large housing communities develop around these areas as more jobs are available (a good thing!), the residents need water for their homes.

Ancillary businesses that sell/repair/manufacture things needed by the local industries require water. Maybe a hotel is developed- add more water for guests, laundry etc.

I think most of us recognize that water is becoming a scarce and more expensive resource, and those who embrace water conservation in their plans (farming, business, homes etc.) will be better off in the near future by being able to use less water, more efficiently.

DavidE - 3-13-2014 at 11:18 AM

INSANITY is Pooenix, Aridzona, Lozenges, and Sawn Diego. Gigantic lawns. Immense stands of shubbery, humungous swimming pools that require 300 gallons of makeup exap water per day and golf courses that consume in a day what Bahia Asuncion consumes in a century.

Take a look what South Lake Tahoe did MANY DECADES AGO with the creation of its water treatment plant and Indian Creek Reservoir.

But for someone to come along and tell me I cannot water 3 gallons a day my potato patch and tomatoes, I know some pretty offensive groserias.

I cannot wait to get the hell back to reality, Michoacan, where people think and a person does not need to scream

NO HAY PEDOS EN EL EJIDO

When it comes to water use.

rts551 - 3-13-2014 at 02:12 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DavidE
INSANITY is Pooenix, Aridzona, Lozenges, and Sawn Diego. Gigantic lawns. Immense stands of shubbery, humungous swimming pools that require 300 gallons of makeup exap water per day and golf courses that consume in a day what Bahia Asuncion consumes in a century.

Take a look what South Lake Tahoe did MANY DECADES AGO with the creation of its water treatment plant and Indian Creek Reservoir.

But for someone to come along and tell me I cannot water 3 gallons a day my potato patch and tomatoes, I know some pretty offensive groserias.

I cannot wait to get the hell back to reality, Michoacan, where people think and a person does not need to scream

NO HAY PEDOS EN EL EJIDO

When it comes to water use.


I thought you were moving closer to "Sawn Diego" maybe Tiajuwana?

David K - 3-13-2014 at 02:23 PM

In desert towns, the only grass is all those golf courses (but they use recycled water)... Gravel is the ground cover of choice from Palm Springs to Tucson (for the most part... right Ralph?).

DavidE - 3-13-2014 at 02:24 PM

Takes time when on a boodget. Car decided to start decomposing. Water pump, timing belt, tossed the windshield wiper arm linkage bushings onto the highway. A/C compressor committed seppuku. North is going to take a much bigger bite out of my social insecurity and labor costs a lot more. Going from here north with a fixed car, buying a new set of tires, getting maimed, then pointing the hood ornament south-east as soon as I can.

watizname - 3-14-2014 at 08:30 AM

Urban areas both NOB and SOB need to start thinking desal for drinking, and reclaimed for Irrigation. IF we get an El Nino next year, our reservoirs and groundwater banks will be filling up and now is the perfect time to start development of some desalination plants. Then we could use them to offset the natural water usage. But that may be a little too far sighted for our politicians. With the economy improving slightly, it would be a better use for our money than the Brown Streak high speed railway between what, Bakersfield and Fresno?



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